The Italian ambassador to Colombo, responsible for the Maldives, arrived in Malé a few hours ago and will meet with coast guard officials in the capital, while Maldivian Coast Guard rescue boats have arrived at the scene of the accident that killed five Italian divers.
The victims are Monica Montefalcone, a professor of Ecology at the University of Genoa, her daughter Giorgia Sommacal, a researcher, and two diving instructors : they were exploring a cave at a depth of 50 meters in the Vaavu atoll.
The recovery boats are carrying Coast Guard and police divers, as well as an experienced Italian diver who has already collaborated with the authorities. The Farnesina reported this in a statement.
At the moment, weather conditions may prevent the start of recovery operations, but an initial dive should be carried out to explore the cave's access points, pending improvement in weather conditions.
(Unioneonline)
